Rerto Bird Article in the News Paper past Sunday

[maxg765]

Hello All,

Not sure if this has already been mentioned.

In case anyone likes to collect these or keep track of them the Retro Bird was mentioned in the Arizona Republic New Paper on this past Sunday. Front page of the Automobile/Car section with a photo of a Blue one and an article. It mostly talked about some women owners who ride them in California. I am sure they are on this forum if they love their Birds that much.

Regards

Max

[My Raven]

Re: Rerto Bird Article in the News Paper past Sunday

Here is the text of the article from Westlaw & Originally Printed in The Sacramento Bee:

Single senior women have fun, fun, fun in their T-Birds

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By Lewis Griswold

Jul. 16--It was the car of choice for Thelma and Louise, and also for the mysterious blonde in "American Graffiti."

Ladies seem to have a thing for the Ford Thunderbird, whether it's the stylish '50s original or the recent revival. The latest two-seater T-Bird, built from 2002-2005, is the car of choice for a group of South Valley ladies, some of whom found a new companion -- one with four tires and an engine -- after they were widowed.

At least once a month, Maxine Brock of Visalia and 10 like-minded friends -- they're all single, and most are over 60 -- rev up their T-Birds and hit the road. They drive single-file in a caravan, causing heads to turn wherever they go. Honks and waves from other drivers are routine.

"We're too young for the rocking chair," Brock said cheerily.

The original two-seater Ford Thunderbird, manufactured from 1955 to 1957, captivated the public with its European-inspired sporty looks. The convertible has a removable hard top, some with eye-catching portholes, and a soft top also was available.

The most recent T-Bird is a retro version of the original and has both hard and soft tops. Most of the ladies in the group own one.

"When you get older, you can still have a lot of fun," said Brock. She owns two T-Birds -- a sage green, all-original 1956 two-seater that she stumbled across at an estate sale and a 2004 merlot red model, plus she previously owned a 2002. "Find a hobby that you like and expand on it."

It's by design, not chance, that the newer model T-Bird appeals to ladies, said Clotaire Rapaille, a French psychologist who used his training in Jungian archetypes to help Chrysler design the PT Cruiser and keep the Jeep true to its roots.

"These cars are very sensuous," said Rapaille. "People don't buy a car, they wear a car, like a dress. I understand these ladies. They feel like they are in charge, in preserving their own lives and culture."

Group member Alicia Ykema of Hanford, co-owner of a turkey farm, got a white 2003 T-Bird after a test drive.

"I decided it's hard to fly like an eagle with turkeys, so I needed a Thunderbird," Ykema joked.

Barbara Hayes of Selma buried her husband, Jerry, last year. His merlot red 2002 Thunderbird sat in the garage while she grieved. Brock, the group's unofficial social director, heard about Hayes from a mutual friend, so she called to ask if she'd like to join their next outing. The T-Bird soon came out of the garage.

"The camaraderie is great," said Hayes, one of the group's seven widows. "It got me out of my shell. My kids are real happy."

The informal group -- there are no dues, no officers and no meetings with minutes -- sprang to life two years ago when Brock, a former interior decorator, was driving her red 2002 T-Bird with a white hardtop along Demaree Street in Visalia. A nearly identical red 2005 T-Bird with a black cloth top, driven by Rosalie Green of Visalia, pulled up next to Brock at a stoplight. Brock recognized Green as an acquaintance from her interior decorating days. They rolled down their windows and Green "hollered out her phone number," Brock said.

That afternoon, they hatched a plan: invite two friends who also own T-Birds for a trip to Tachi Palace in Lemoore to tour the new hotel. A week later, they journeyed to Bakersfield to go antiquing and have lunch at a Basque restaurant. Over time, more friends and acquaintances who own T-Birds started joining their day trips to Uncle Harry's restaurant in Reedley -- a favorite -- and to Three Rivers, Orange Blossom Junction restaurant in Exeter and other spots.

But it's not about the cars -- not by a country mile.

"We're not a club," Brock said emphatically. "We are personal friends. We have a lot of social time together, laughing and planning new events. We never want to be known as a 'car club.'"

Yet it's the T-Birds that they have in common -- that, and time to get together, sometimes on short notice.

"I just like the impromptu-ness," said Jeanette Groh of Visalia, who recently joined the group after acquiring a pearl white 2005 T-Bird that boosted her spirits after the death of her husband last year.

Elsie Hurst, co-owner of Valhalla restaurant in Visalia, said a customer who works in commercial real estate told her right after the 2002 T-Bird hit the streets, "Elsie, you need to get a Thunderbird."

"I'm not buying a car that costs $40,000," Elsie said at the time. But before long, she drove home in her new solid red 2002 T-Bird.

"My daughter thought I'd lost my mind," Hurst said. "She said, 'Mom, what are you doing?' I got a fun car!" Other regulars are teacher Karen Hoppert of Tulare (golden bronze 2005 T-Bird), Ruby Young of Visalia (bright red 2004), plus Anne Julien and Dorothy Peck, both of Visalia, and Floretta Schletewitz of Clovis, who don't actually own T-Birds but come along for the fun.
"Fun" and "T-Bird" seem to go together.

The Beach Boys had a hit with "Fun, Fun, Fun" (" 'til her Daddy took the T-Bird away") and Frank Sinatra bid farewell to his T-Bird in the movie "Pal Joey" with the phrase "So long, little Bird, don't pick up any nails."

Brock has a theory about why the women in her group dig Thunderbirds.
"When the Corvette came out, Ford had to have an answer," Brock said. "The girls gravitated to the T-Bird, and men went for the Corvette. The Thunderbird was '55-'56-'57. Most of us graduated 1954 to 1958. We feel young again."

The reporter can be reached at lgriswold@fresnobee.com or (559) 622-2416.

To see more of The Fresno Bee, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.fresnobee.com Copyright (c) 2009, The Fresno Bee, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

[Bird03]

Re: Rerto Bird Article in the News Paper past Sunday

These ladies are getting famous across the country. Carmino found the same article in the Providence Journal today.

[steelblue5505]

Re: Rerto Bird Article in the News Paper past Sunday

Wes,
Thanks for that great scan of the complete article.